Carmen DeGregorio Jr. honored with Carnegie Medal at Millville commission meeting, family accepts in his honor

Staff photo by Cathy CramerIn an emotional acceptance, Adrienne DeGregorio (right), son Carmen III and daughter Virginia thank the Millville Police Department and the Carnegie Hero Commission for honoring her husband Carmen Jr. as a recipient of the most prestigious award for heroism in North America.

MILLVILLE — At the Millville City Commission meeting Tuesday
evening, Adrienne DeGregorio, along with children Virginia and Carmen III,
accepted the Carnegie Medal of Heroism in honor of her husband, Carmen Jr.

Family members and friends filled City Hall to honor

Her husband was a retired police officer who was killed
while rescuing a young woman from a domestic assault in the parking lot of the
Wawa on Main Street and Wade Boulevard.

Christopher Robinson was attempting to kidnap his
girlfriend, when Carmen stepped in to save her. The ordeal left him with severe
injuries in the back of the head, which led to his death two days later.

He was married for 19 years to his wife Adrienne.

Throughout the years following, Lt. Dan Baer created a
Carmen DeGregorio Hero Fund and suggested Carmen to the Carnegie Hero
Commission.

Years passed with legal proceedings, preventing the
commission from getting the proper authorization to research DeGregorio. Once
everything was worked out, the study took place and the decision was made.

Now, the DeGregorio family has the medal.

Douglas Chambers, a representative from the Carnegie Hero
Commission brought the award to the commission meeting to present to Adreinne
and family.

"This is for those individuals who risk their lives to an
extraordinary degree," Chambers said. "Only one in five are awarded
posthumously, which, unfortunately we're doing today."

The Carnegie Hero Commission began in 1904 and has awarded
about 9,400 medals in the U.S. and Canada over the past 107 years.

"It's a tremendous honor to recognize a man who intervened
to save the life of a complete stranger," Chambers said.

After a video presentation describing the origins and
history of the medal, Chambers presented the award to the family.

Through tears, Adrienne held her children close and thanked
the Carnegie Hero Commission as the entire room, filled with members of the
Millville Police Department, gave a standing ovation and cheered.

"Thank you for the prayers and thoughts. We're very
honored," Adrienne said. "I'm going to put this in my curio cabinet with his
other award so anyone can see this."

Adrienne added: "He's been my hero since I married him. He
still is my hero and I miss him so much."

A representative from Congressman Frank LoBiondo's office
attended the meeting and read a letter from the congressman.

"As you accept this, it will be a bittersweet moment,"
LoBiondo said in the letter. "Carmen's legacy is forever preserved."

Also at the meeting, Captain Matt Rabbai spoke to the
family.

"The night this happened, there is no doubt that Carmen saw
an individual in need and acted without hesitation," Rabbai said. "The result
of it cost him his life. He was a true hero and will always be a part of the
Millville Police Department. Period."

The medal presented to the DeGregorios had a the verse John
15:13 engraved on it next to Carmen Jr.'s name:

"Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."